It’s Buddy’s Group 1 Sprinting Double!

It was on 1 March 2019 when Leo Laagland was admitted to hospital. Three days later he passed away and four days after his devoted wife of many years Henny also passed on. On 1 March 2020 the boom greyhound the couple bred Buddy Boom powerfully won the $35,000 Qualified Pet Services Railway Sprint. In doing so he completed the Group 1 sprinters double.

Pictured: The Qualified Pet Services Railway Sprint winner Buddy Boom

 

It has turned into an outstanding litter the Laagland’s bred at their Thames base kennels. They used their consistent open class sprinter Captain Coutts (22 wins, $38,935) over an unraced bitch of theirs La Cigale, who herself was out of the more than handy Kitty’s Thunder who they successfully raced - ten wins over all three racing distances, $33,871.

 

The resulting 27 October 2017 whelped litter produced six puppies with four of them having gone onto attain open class racing status. One other is currently C4 graded, while the other litter member is unraced.

 

Northern trainer Jared Udy was offered a pup from the litter and he selected a black greyhound who was to be named Buddy Boom. Udy, who trains in Te Kauwhata with his partner Denise Cottam, quickly became aware he had selected a rather talented puppy for some of his mates who went onto form the owing Three Buddies Syndicate.

 

Buddy Boom confirmed his trainer’s thoughts when he delivered his sharp 18.59s February 10 2019 Manukau 318m qualifying trial time. His race debut followed exactly a month later when he produced his slick 18.33s victory. Ironically it was a litter sister Ashen for Bob Bond who chased her home 4.25 lengths behind. And in another ironic twist, the current Maiden Manukau 318m track best time is held by the Laagland’s owned and bred Belcroft Banker at 18.26s, who was also whelped by Kitty’s Thunder.

 

Buddy Boom quickly went onto attain his open class racing stripes which occurred in his 13th race start – brilliant race placement by his trainers saw him winning 12 of those races. Another six wins followed prior to Buddy contesting his The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint series. He won his 295m heat in 17.20s, then his semi-final sprint in 17.10s. From there he went onto to strongly annex the $35,000 Group 1 final in 17.17s.

 

He then contested the Wanganui Toyota Dash For Cash series, winning his Hatrick 305m heat in 17.46s from where he delivered a 2.5 length second in the $16,000 final behind a Sunday Railway Sprint rival Trojan Hoarse. (The third-placed finisher then Cheese And Chalk was to finish second in the Railway Sprint final).

 

And that brings us onto the Qualified Pet Services Railway Sprint series where Buddy Boom returned the quickest equal heat time when clocking 17.27s. His trainers were rapt when he drew the eight trap for the decider. And rightfully so, because his pink racing vest was sighted pushing forward during the initial early rush which saw Cheese And Chalk setting the pace after the Lisa Cole prepared sprinter won the break.

 

The Calum Weir prepared Select Trick attempted to push between the pair, but she was denied racing room and was checked out of contention. Another of the favoured contenders Seve was also getting himself into a handy position for his Canterbury conditioner Danial Lane.

 

Cheese And Chalk held the rail when they swung in for the run home with Buddy Boom racing out wide. Seve was sitting in a challenging position. They charged towards judge Murray Larmer locked together and a desperate late lunge by Buddy Boom saw him nailing the sprinters Group 1 double by a head margin after 17.37s of torrid sprinting.

 

Cheese and Chalk (Fernando Bale – Ocotillo) was super gallant in finishing second, while Seve (Fabregas – Mini’s Fantasy) maintained his solid sprint to claim the third placing just a neck behind. There was another 3.5 lengths back to the Dave and Jean Fahey trained fourth place getter Archie John Hill (Collision – Payton Hill).

 

  

Race sponsor Carol O’Neil from Qualified Pet Services presenting the Railway Sprint trophy to co-trainer Denise Cottam; Railway Sprint runner up Cheese And Chalk and the third-placed Seve  

 

“Buddy had to be good to get across, take a knock and then kick on to win it – we’re rapt. I was happy with the way he jumped and with him landing handy to the pace. I was a bit surprised he came down a bit as he normally holds a straight line. It was just awesome that Buddy won - outstanding.

 

“It’s amazing to have him tear off the Group 1 sprinting double. We will handpick his races and take on any feature sprints like NZRS races with him. We’ll keep on ticking him over – the Galaxy Sprint will come around soon enough again. We’re stoked with the way he pulled up – he was revving around in the paddock after we got home,” advised Udy from Palmerston North after having headed south with some of their Golden Chase contenders on Monday morning.

 

Jared Udy is grateful from the help that both him and Niecy (Denise) receives. “Our parents are absolutely awesome, always there helping out as are Shardae Hunt and Sean Codlin. Phil Green has been a massive help to me for over 15 years. If I can’t fix a niggle, then it’s Phil who fixes them.”

 

The Three Buddies owing syndicate comprises of close friends of the training partners. Andrew “Butch” Scott and his wife Tracey, plus there’s Trent Ivil and his partner Maata, along with Buddy’s trainers.  

 

It was a hugely successful afternoon of racing for the Udy/Cottam partnership – three greyhounds to the races resulting in three wins. Jared says that the catalyse for their current success was set up by another consistent sprinter Alex Attack who they have successfully raced. They produced him to finish second in the Railway Sprint final two years ago.

 

“I’m considering taking the old boy Alex down to Hawera for the annual Easter meeting to contest the veteran sprint down there,” chuckled Udy about their ageless 149 race veteran (19 wins, 49 minors & $46,729 in stakes).           

 

Buddy Boom has now contested 37 races and he is maintaining a high winning strike rate winning 25 of them. He has placed in another eight races which adds up to $69,590 in stake earnings, which excludes the additional $2,000 he has won for the Laagland estate via his Group 1 Breeders’ bonus payments from his winning double. 

 

Pawnote: Other members of the Captain Coutts – La Cigale litter are trained in Te Awamutu by Wayne and Tracey Steele which includes Captain Kev (10 wins), Carbon Tiger (11 wins), Electric Dancer (9 wins), Express Emporium (6 wins), while Ashen has added 14 wins for Bob Bond.

 

  

Other members of the highflying Captain Coutts – La Cigale includes (from left): Captain Kev; Carbon Tiger; Ashen

 

Auckland Cup meeting support features

 

It was great to see a 779m staying race being carded during the Auckland Cup meeting. The $5,000 Auckland Stayers Cup resulted in an emphatic pace making victory for the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Von Strass. He donkey licked his opposition when cruising to his 10.5 length victory in a handy 46.44s.

 

The proven stayer Goldstar Sydney made a solid Manukau track debut effort for her Canterbury conditioners Steve and Bonnie Evans when she extended during the run home to claim second, and in doing so relegated Grunty Mama back to third by a length after she gamely chased after the freewheeling pacemaker. There was another half-length to the fourth-placed Alotta Talk who is a kennelmate to the winner. It was a solid check out from the 779m stayers with the 50th running of the prestigious $100,000 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar rapidly looming.

 

It was a clean sweep of the postrace podium placings by Lisa Cole trained runners in the main support open class 527m event. The second reserve Simply Smooth gained a race start and she stylishly led all the way for her track debut 30.72s victory.

 

Big Time Ocean was the Auckland Cup second reserve and she used pace making tactics when streaming along in front. She yielded to her kennelmate during the run home by a two-length margin. Big Time Maple finished solidly half a length behind for third, while Coles’ other two runners in the event Big Time Seth and Melita Vella finished fourth and fifth respectively.

 

The main support open class 318m sprint saw the Railway Sprint winning trainers Jared Udy and Denise Cottam produced their resilient mentored sprinter Kiwi Boy to win his 32nd career race when he dashed clear for his 18.43s win by a 1.5 length margin.

 

The promising Lisa Cole trained sprinter Big Time Pluto was bold when finishing second and she held a three quarter length margin over her more esteemed kennelmate Sir Duggie who was again valiant when finishing third after setting the early pace.

 

  

The Manukau Stayers Cup winner Von Strass seen here with handler Melissa Steele, along with Auckland GRC Director Rupert Fairbrother (left) and Daryl McLachlan who is a member of the owing I Pave Shirley Boys Syndicate; the TAB Mt Wellington C5 winner Simply Smooth; co-trainer Denise Cottam with the C5 318m sprint winner Kiwi Boy, along with Tracey and Jarja Scott              

 

By Peter Fenemor